Soot cleaner fob boilers



Oct. 23, 1928.

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Oct. 23, 1928. T. M. BRUBACK SOOT CLEANER FOR BOILERS Filed Aug. 28,1.926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR My. (2M By Attorneys, fimm- W 3 -.lationof the cleaner element.

Patented @et. 23, 1928.

W? title...

THEODORE M. BRUBACK, OF DU BOIS, PENNSYLVANIA.

500T CLEANER FOR BOILERS.

Application filed August'28, 1926. Serial No. 132,218.

This invention relates to soot cleaners for boilers and aims to providecertain improve ments therein.

Such soot cleaners usually comprise a cleaner element which isordinarily a perforated pipe extending transversely across the bank ofwater tubes, such pipe being connected with a source of cleaning fluidsuch as steam from the boiler, and means being provided to turn theelement either continuously in one direction or through a predeterminedarc in reverse directions. The present invention relates to a cleaner ofthis general type in which the cleaner preferably oscillates. and inwhich the admission of cleaning fluid to the cleaner element iscontrolled by a valve which in turn is automatically opened and closedbefore and after the oscilcustomarily such operation is performed byhand, means being provided, such as sheave and chain, which ismanipulated by the operator during the cleaning periods. 7

The present invention is directed to acon- 'struction which isespecially intended for use with high pressure boilers wherein the steamutilized for cleaning purposes is also at high pressure, although, ofcourse, it may be used with other installations if desired. The deviceis designed to control unusnalpres sures without leakage at the valve orelsewhere, and the same time to permit of easy and con venicntoperation.

To these ends the invent-ion provides a construction in which all of themoving parts, with the exception of the controlling valve stem and valvedisk, are arranged outside of the valve chamber so that they are notbrought in contact with the cleaning fluid.

. he invention includes various "features of improvement which will behereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the drawings, which illust ate one form of the invention,

Figure l is a longitudinal section of the head o f' he cleaner with itsassociated elements, the dev ce being shown in position atplanes, asindicated on the line 5-5 in Fig. 1.1

V operated.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 66 in Fig. 2. v

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a detail of L and F Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 101O in Fig. 4:. 7

Referring to the drawings, let A indicate a boiler setting having theusual aperture B through which the cleaner element extends, a bushing Obeing usually provided for such aperture, and servin to support thedevice from the boiler setting. D shows the end'of the usual cleanerelement, the latter extending over the bank of tubes and being providedwith appropriate orifices or nozzles, the cleaner element beingconnected by a union E with an elongated nipple F Which extends into thecleaner head designated as a whole by the letter G. The head is providedwith a chamber H into which the nipple projects and within which it isdesigned to rotate or oscillate, a stuffing box I being provided toprevent the escape of steam from the head around the end or" the nipple.J is a steam passage connected with a pipe K which leads to the steamdrum of the boiler or other source of cleaning fluid. Above the steampassage J is a valve chamber L, having a valve seat M and a valve disk Nin axial alignment with the nipple F, the valve disk N being providedwith a valve stem 0 by which the valve is The valve disk N is swiveledon the end of its stem, so that the latter may rotate withoutnecessarily imparting any rotary motion to the valve disk; hence thelatter 'may close without any grinding action between the valve disk andseat. The valve stem passes through a cover P bolted to the head, astufiing box Q being provided to prevent the escape of steam around thestem.

The valve disk N as thus constructed controls the passage of steam intothe cleaner element D. The valve is designed to be opened at such timeas the soot cleaner is in operation and to be closed when the operationis completed. The opening of the valve is according to the preferredform of the present invention automatically efiected just before thecleaning operation commences through whatever manual or other operativedevice is provided for turning the cleaner element. In the presentconstruction there is illustrated the ordinary sheave wheel R which isadapted to be turned by pulling upon complen'iental bevel pinion, des

a chain passing over the wheel, the latter being commonly used and beingshown at it. The sheave wheel hence eti ects two operations, one theopening of the valve" disk N (and its subsequent ClOSlllfI) and theother the turning of the cleaner element.

Referring first to its control of the valve, the sheave wheel is mountedupon. a. shaft S which itisadapted to turn the shaft carrying at itsinner end a bevel pinion T which forms a part of a dilii'erential. trainmounted in a differential housing U. The idler element of the-dillerential comprises three gears V (Fi 1 and 5) mounted on the usual studsand the I iated by the reference letter V1 The differential housing -Uisprovided wit 1 a gear Y shown in Figures 1, 2, 3', which is utilizedto impart motion to the valve disk N so as to open and close the latterduring the turning of the sheave-wheel R. For this purpose the gear Yisintcrmeshed with a gear A carried on a counter-shaft B arrangcdbelowthe differential'housin which counter-shat is carried I in suitablehearings in the head and cover C which the valve and has keyed to it awide gear mesheswith a gear D eyed on stem 0.

The result of this construction is that it the complemental differentialpin on is held stationary (by means hereinafter described) a rotation ofthe sheave wheel R and shaft S with its differential pinion T will causethe idler gears V to t 'avel around the temporarily fixed gear W. thusrotatino; the differential housing U with its gear Y and through theintermediary oi the countcrsha'tt B and its gears rotate the valve r l).

This rotation is utilized to open or close the valve disk N by means ofthe screw E l'lT-Iml to the valve stem 0. The screw F/ passes throughthe threaded part F which for convenience is formed apart ot the coverP, the construction being best illustrated in Fin. 6. The geai. C on theountersha'tt B is made sufficiently wide so that it remains in mesh withthe gear I) on the valve stem 0 during the entire travel of thevalvestcm.

The GZlTQCt of rotating the sheave wheel (to the left when the parts arein the position 0t Fig. 1) is to open the valve, and when the valve isfully open the mechanism then begins to rotate the cleaner element. itbeing preterable that the valve remain fully open during an oscillationo'tthe cleaner element throughout a definite are before the action ofclosing the valve commences. That is to say. the mechanism is designedto provide a I 7 starting pointwhen the valve is fully closed, thisbeing the position in whi h the parts are leit between successive usesof the apparatus.

i opened.

vformed with a lugvJ best seen in Fig. 3,

.irame, therebypreventing the gear I from turning to the right. Duringthe time when the valve is being initially opened a locking lever Lengages the opposite side of the lug .l and prevents the gear I fromturning to the left. These parts in effect constitute the lockingmechanism for the differential gear This locking mechanism holds: thegear I against rotation until the valve is fully The locking lever is,however, re-

leased at the fully open position of the valve by means of a travelingnut M which moves along a. screw thread formed on the left-hand end(Fig. l) of the shaft B, the nut engaging a. projection N on the lockinglever ust before the valve is fully opened and moving the latter so thatit disengages the lug J of the' gear I immediately after the valve iscompletely opened. As soon, as the lugJ. is oisenp aged, the short shaftG may rotate the gear, H by means of the gear W, and this ro-' tationcontinues so long as the sheave R is moved to the left and until thelarge gear I reaches the predetermined endof the are. during. whichmovement the cleaning fluid projects itself under pressure from the no.Zlcs in the cleaner element 1). This prescr bed are may be varied asdesired by means of a stop O which is shown as bolted to the I at anypart of its periphery which may be selected. and when this stop 0contacts with a complementalstop P fixed on the frame oi the device. asshown in Figs. 2 and 2' further movement of the gear I and cleanerelement in that direction is prevented.

At this point in vthe operation the sheave wheel R is stopped. and theoperator then grasps the oppositebranch of the operating chain andreverses the movement of the sheave wheel. the latt r then turning tothe right.

At the beginning of the reverse movement the gear I is free to reverseits (lll'QC? tion of movement and so also is the valve" stem 0. therotation of which has been stopped by the contact of the gear D againstthe threaded part F. This contact, however, stops the valve stem fromrotating only in one direction and the reversal of the sheave would tendto move the valve/tothe left in Fig. 1 toward the closing position. Itis desirable, however. that. as before stated, the valve be maintainedfully open until the cleaner element has been rotated hack to tsstarting position and in order to effect this a catch is provided which.engages the differential housing and prevents its rotation, therebyavoiding the transmission of movement through gear A, shaft 13 and gear0 and D to the valve stem 0.

This catch is shown as comprising a bolt Q, which is adapted to be movedin bearings in the frame, the bolt being normally urged to the left inFig. l by a spring ll. The end of the bolt is designed to engage one ofseries of projections S formed at the rear of the differential housingandbest seen in Fig. While it is not strictly essential that the bolt Q.should hold the differential housing against movement except duringamajor part ofthe reverse rotation of the sheave, it is best constructedso as to hold the housing at all times other than the period in whichthe valve is designed to operate. namely, when the cleaner element is ator near its position of rest. urged forward into contact with one of thestops S on the differential housing until it is forcibly pushed back byacamming lever T,

the latter heingbest seen in Figs. 3 and 4. The camming lever T ispivoted on the frame and is connected with a cross bar U which in turnisfconnected with a crossbar V pas ing through the bolt Q, by links N W.Normally the cannning lever T occupies its forward position during theoperation ofthe cleaner element but when the latter. ap proaches itsinactive position on its reverse stroke the lug J contacts with a camface Y on the camming lever, thus forcing the latter to the ri htiandpushing the bolt Q out of engagement with the lugs S; As seen in Fig. 3,which illustrates the position of the parts at the end of the unlockingmovement of the bolt, the nose of the camming lever rests upon the lug Jduring the timewhen this lug is prevented from moving to the right bythe stationary lug K. In this position the gear I. and cleaner D beinglocked against movement to the right'so that the (.iffcrential gear Viis f fixed against rotation, the differential housing is released and acontinued movement of the sheave to the right then rotates thecountershaft B and the valve stem 3 so that the valve commences itsclosing movement. hen the valve is fully closed, the movement to theright, in which position it remains until it is again desired to operatethe device. can be closed with whatever force is desired. During theclosing movement of the valve the nut M which has continuously held thelooking lever L in its inactive position, as shown in Fig. 4, travels tothe left in Fig. 1 by releasing the locking lever so that at thebeginning ofthe closing movement of the valve'the locking lever hasmoved under the influence of a spring Z (Figs. 3, a and 10) to theposition ofFig.3 where itprevents The bolt hence is constantly sheave isthereby held against The valve b this mechanism i, theremovement of thegear I and the cleaner element to the left until the valve is againopened to the required extent by a movement of the sheave to the left,during the final part of whichvalve opening movement the nut M againreleases the locking lever and permits the operation of the cleanerelement to recommence.

The invention best includes certain details of construction whichfacilitate the opera tion the parts. Thus, the usual cover plate orwasher i is preferably provided, as shown in Fig. 1, around the nipple Fso as to avoid as far as possible the escape of steam or fire gases outthrough the boiler setting, such cover plate being preferably urgedforward by a string B against a flange C on the plate D forming a partof the bushing C. A ball bearing E is provided surrounding the nipple Fwhereby the end of the cleaner D is supported in a manner to produce aslittle friction as possible. The nut M is preferably formed with a wingF which slides on a guide rod G as best seen in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

The operation of my invention may be gathered from the foregoingdescription. Fig. 1 represents the positions of the parts when themechanism is at rest, the valve disk N being closed-and the cleanerelement D be ing in position where it is ready to begin the cleaningoperation. \Vhen it is desired to clean the boiler the operator graspsthe lefthand branch of the chain, pulling the same and rotating thesheave wheel to the left. If by mistake the operator pulls on therighthand branch of the chain, the sheavewheel will not move, since allparts of the differential'arelocked against movement. This is due tothestop K preventing movement of the gear I and shaft S to the right,and the movement of the valve disk N being checked by its seat, so thatthe housing cannot move to the right.

. Upon the initial movement of the sheave to the left, the gear wheel Iis prevented from turning tothe left by catch L engaging the lug J sothat the only movement possible is the rotation of the differentialhousing which through the countershaft B and connected gearing opens thevalve. Until the valve is fully opened the cleaner mechanism ispositively held against movement in either direction and if it weredesired the sheave wheel could be turned first inone direction and thenin another to partially open and close .the valve without moving thecleaner element from its position of rest. But upon a continued movementof the sheave wheel to the left, the valve becomes fully opened untilits pinion D reaches the threaded part F when all movement of the valvein that direction is stopped. I Simultaneously the catch lever L ismoved out of the path of the lug J on the gear wheel 31 by steam.

7 the stop P.

started to close.

the nut M; thereupon the cleaner element is rotated to the left, thusdischarging the steam jets over the surfaces to be cleaned, and thisoperation continues until the stop O reaches In the ineantin'ie the stopJ has been moved otl' the nose of the camming lever T, thus releasingthe locking bolt so that it engages onc'or the other of the projectionsS, thus preventing the valve from closing when the operator grasps theopposite branch of the'chain and moves the cleaner element back to thepoint of beginning, the valve thus remaining open during the entirecleaning oscillation. As the clci'nent approaches its star ting pointthe lug J moves the camming lever T to right (Fig. 1), thus releasingthe bolt Q; and iniimediatclv after the lug J contacts with the stopif", thus preventing further movement of the gear I to the right, andlocking the differential gear V so that further movement of the sheaveto the right results in the forward moven'ient of the valve toward itsseat. i

If desired, after the return stroke of the cleaner element has beencon'ipleted, the sheave wheelR can he turned to the left and the cleanerelement will repeat its move- 1 ment to the left as-t-he lug'J isnot'locked by locking lever L until after the valve has If this mode ofoperation is desired the cleaner-elen'ient may he oscillated as manytimes as is desired and finally when the operator wishes to do so, hemay return it to its initial. or starting position and then close thevalve.

Vhile l have shown and described one form of the invention, it will beunderstood that Ido not wish to be limited thereto, since arious changesmay be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.Preferably, however, the entiremcchanisni for controll ng the valve andturning the cleaner element is located outside of'the steam passages sothat none of such mechanism is d ectlv a'tlected by contact with theThis provides an apparatus which well adapted for high pressure steamboilers and the like.

hat I claim is 1. In'asoot cleaner, a cleaner element, a conduit forcleaning fluid, a valve controlling admission of said fluid to thecleaner element, and means for operating the valve and turning thecleaner element comprising a dii'lcrent-ial gear train.

2.111 a soot cleaner, a cleaner element, a conduit for cleaning fluid, avalve controlling admission of said fluid to the cleaner element, meansfor operating the valve and turning the cleaner element comprising adifferential gear train. said differential gear train havi one ofitselements connected to the valve and adapted to operate the same andhaving another of its elements connected to the cleaner-element andadapted to operate the ferential. element which controls the valve lJC-ing the part carrying the idler g of the differential gear tram and theelement which controls the. cleaner element being the driven ,gear otthe differential.

6. A soot cleaner having a cleaner element, a conduit for cleaning fluidconnected therewith, a valve for controlling the passage of said fluidinto said cleaner element, a gear for rotating said cleaner element, acounterslnift for operating said valve, a differential gear train forturning saidcountershaft and said gear, an operating shaftforsaid'diiferential gear, a shaft in alinementwith said operating shafthaving a pinion for turning said gear fixed to said cleaner element.

7. The soot cleaner of claim 6, in which the gear of the cleaner elementis provided with a lock and said countcrshaft is provided with a nut foroperating said lock.

8. Ascot cleaner having a cleancr elei'nent, a conduit for cleaningfluid. avalvefol-controlling the passage of said cleaning fluid intosaid cleaner element, and'meansfor operating said valve and turning saidcleaner element, comprising a differential gear con nected with thevalve and cleaner element and a lock for holding the casing of saidgearstationary during the operation of said cleaner element, and meansfor-releasing said lock to permit-closing of said valve at the end ofthe n'iovement of said cleaner element.

9. In the soot cleaner of claimo; a releasing means comprising a camoperated by said cleaner element.

10. A soot cleanercomprising a cleaner element, a conduit for cleaningfluid. a valve for controlling the pass of cleaning fluid to saidelement, a stem located outside of sid conduit and cleaner element andprovide l with a thread, a fixed nut engaging said hill 11. A sootcleaner having a cleaner element, and driven by said pinion, a lockinglever for a valve, means for operating said valve and said last-namedgear, a countershaft driven l0 turning said element, comprising adifierenby said difi'erential gear and operating said tial gear, a boltadapted to engage the housvalve, and a travelling nut for operating saiding of said difierential gear and hold the same locking lever. in fixedposition, a cam lever for operating In Witness whereof, I have hereuntosigned said bolt, a pinion driven by said differential my name. gear, agear connected to said cleaner element THEODORE M. BRUBACK.

